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Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 8AY

Contact: Claire Mayhew (01277 312741) 

Items
No. Item

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296.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs S Cloke, Russell and Mrs Tierney.

 

The Mayor, announces the passing of past Councillor Vivienne Russell. 

 

Vivienne was a Liberal Democrats councillor for Hutton East Ward between 1991-2002.  Over her years as a Councillor, she played an active role in many Committees and Boards including Chairing the Planning Committee; Policy Committee; a member of Country Parks and Recreation Committee as well as representing Hutton horticultural Society Allotment Management. 

 

Deepest condolences, have been sent to Vivienne’s family on their sudden loss and the Mayor ask that everyone joins her in observing a minute’s silence in her memory.

 

Members of the Council paid tribute to Vivienne.

 

297.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

 

There were no declarations of interest at this stage.

298.

Review of Local Council Tax Discounts 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 497 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In March 2021, following a motion at Full Council by the Labour Group, which was accepted in February 2021, Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee (PRED) resolved to review Council Tax Discretionary Discounts and report options to a future PRED Committee.

 

In September 2021, Members reviewed the options available and agreed to consult with residents on three discretionary discounts to make amendments to the scheme of Council Tax Discounts and Premiums with effect from 1 April 2022, using discretionary powers granted by the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.

 

This report outlines the results from the consultation and proposed changes to the scheme.

 

On 24th November 2021, PRED Committee resolved the following recommendations below, and now refers to Ordinary Council for approval.

 

 

The Motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Parker.

 

After a brief debate, a vote was taken by a show of hands.

 

The Motion was RESOLVED UNANIMIOUSLY to:

 

1.            Remove the Council Tax discretionary discount for Empty and Unfurnished properties from 1 April 2022.

 

2.         Remove the Council Tax discretionary discount for Second Homes from 1 April 2022.

 

3.            Not change The Council Tax discretionary discount for Empty & Uninhabitable properties from 1 April 2022.

 

 

Reasons for Recommendation

 

Properties that are vacant for long periods of time, can lead to problems with squatters, anti-social behaviour and have a direct impact on the amount of housing available in the Borough.  The removal of these discounts would incentivise the owners to bring properties back into use and occupation with less delay.

 

Currently two local Council Tax discounts the Council are reviewing to remove are costing Brentwood Council £13,519 per annum, and the precepting authorities collectively £113,344 per annum.  This would generate additional income to the collective Councils to reinvest within their services.

 

Legislation will still allow the Council to award discretionary support to people in exceptional circumstances and each request will be given due care and consideration and assessed on its own merits.

 

299.

Budget 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 718 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report and appendices set out all the relevant information in support of setting the Councils Budget for General Fund services and Council Tax for 2022/23, together with financial forecast information through to 2024/25. Also included is information on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2022/23 and the Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25.

 

(i)         Appendix A - The General Fund budget proposals for 2022/23 to 2024/25.

(ii)        Appendix B - The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals for 2022/23 onwards.

(iii)       Appendix C - The Capital and Investment Strategy for 2022/23 including the Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25

(iv)       Appendix D – Fees & Charges Schedule 2022/23

(v)        Appendix E - Pay Policy Statement

(vi)       Appendix F - Section 151 Officers Assurance Statement and useful information

(vii)      Appendix G - Corporate Strategy Budget Summary

(viii)     Appendix H – Council Tax Resolution 2022/23

 

 

The budget was considered by the Policy, Resources and Economic Development Committee on 2nd February 2022 and has been recommended to Ordinary Council for consideration and approval.

 

The figures presented summarise the detailed service budgets, together with known adjustments including the impact of the provisional central government grant funding along with financial implications of COVID-19.

 

The key elements of the proposed budget are:

 

General Fund

 

1)         £5 increase in Council Tax for 2022/23 for Brentwood Council services.

2)         Earmarked Reserves to set aside appropriate balances to mitigate future financial risk and build up in borough regeneration.

3)         Future uncertainty of Local Government Financing.

 

Housing Revenue Account

 

1)         For 2022/23 a budget that delivers a small surplus of £34k.

2)         Increase in rents of CPI plus 1% per annum; equating to 4.1%.

3)         Continued investment in the delivery of Decent Homes and Development of Housing within the Borough.

4)         Significant investment in the Strategic Housing Delivery Programme ensuring the 30 year business plan is sustainable.

 

Capital

 

1)         Total capital investment of £41.420 million in 2022/23

2)         Subsequent investment of £38.9 million & £22.3million from 2023 to 2025.

 

No amendments to the Budget 2022/2023 were received prior to the meeting.

 

Member’s thanked the Finance Team for the work on the Budget, especially Mrs Van Mellaerts and Miss Barnes.

 

Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED the recommendations in the report.

 

After a full discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014).

 

Members voted as follows:

 

FOR: Cllrs Barber, Bridge, J Cloke, Mrs Gelderbloem, Heard, Hirst, Mrs Hones, Hossack, Jakobsson, McLaren, Nolan, Parker, Mrs Pearson, Poppy,

Mrs Pound, Reed, Ms Sanders, Tanner, Wagland, White & Wiles (21)

 

AGAINST: Cllrs Aspinell, Barrett, Dr Barrett,  Cuthbert, Mrs Davies, Fryd, Fulcher, Haigh, Kendall, Laplain, Lewis, Mynott, Naylor (13)

 

ABSTAIN: (0)

 

The Motion was CARRIED and it was RESOLVED to:

 

1.     Approval the General Fund Budget 2022/23 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy as set out in Appendix A

 

2.     Approve that Council Tax has a £5 increase for 2022/23, the charge of Band D property increases to £198.63 per annum for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 299.

300.

Arrangements to appoint External Auditors from 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 569 KB

Report to follow.

Minutes:

The report outlines a recommendation to Council to opt into the appointing persons arrangement made by the Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the Councils external auditor appointment for the accounting periods 2023/24. To meet deadline of 11 March 2022.

 

The Motion was MOVED by Cllr Hossack and SECONDED by Cllr Parker.

 

After a brief discussion, a vote was taken by a show of hands.

 

The Motion was RESOLVED to:

 

 

1.         Recommend to Ordinary Council that the Council opts into the proposed central arrangements for appointing external auditors for the accounting periods 2023/24 – 2027/28. (Option 3)

 

Reasons for Recommendation

 

To ensure the Council has proper arrangements in place for an External Audit function.

 

 

301.

Urgent Business

An item of business may only be considered where the Chair is of the opinion that, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the Minutes, the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.

 

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

 

 

The meeting ended at 20.25